Seize it while it was sick and finish it off. The poetic words, "Spring River Tide Meets the Sea, Moon Rising over the Sea with the Tide," echoed across the battlefield like a Soul Incantation.
A transparent, illusory expanse of water appeared beneath the Demon Wolf's feet. Sword Qi rose incessantly from the ground, each strand like the surging tide of a spring river, its Sword Momentum vast and mighty.
In the air, they gathered into a Sword Qi formation shaped like a bright moon, linking up with the sea of Sword Qi on the ground.
The scene was just like a bright moon rising over the sea, seeming to surge up with the tide. Sword Light illuminated the entire battlefield, rivaling the moon in the sky. This was precisely Chen Wu's Sword-Controlling Secret Technique, "Sword Momentum: Blue Sea, Bright Moon."
Covered in countless wounds from the Sword Qi rising from the ground, the Demon Wolf watched as innumerable strands of Sword Qi and the bright-moon-shaped Sword Qi sphere surged toward it. It let out a despairing howl.
Black Sound Waves expanded in every direction, colliding with the Sword Qi and dissipating, but the sword sphere continued to descend slowly.
The Demon Wolf leader cast a glance at the sword sphere, then looked around. The two Hurricane Demon Wolves were being beaten down by Old Black.
On the other side of the battlefield, another Hurricane Demon Wolf and the Azure Wind Gray Wolf King had killed the Black Moon Shadowkiller Wolf, but the Hurricane Demon Wolf had also been dragged into a mutual death by the Wolf Queen.
The Azure Wind Gray Wolf King was badly wounded too, and Chen Chen was driving it back step by step. It looked like it would soon follow in their footsteps. The entire battlefield was all but lost.
Seeing this, the Demon Wolf leader's gaze filled with determination, as if it had made some difficult decision. It hurriedly began to howl in a strange, discordant voice: "Awooo... awoo... awooo... woo..."
At the sound, there was a brief silence. Then the second most powerfully built Thirty-Thousand-Year Hurricane Demon Wolf on the other side howled, "Awooo!"
Grayish azure wind rapidly surged from its body, raising a small tornado that swept toward Old Black. It then howled at the last Hurricane Demon Wolf before charging at Old Black alone.
The last Hurricane Demon Wolf looked deeply around at the scene. A mournful howl rose from it, and the Gale Wolf Pack all around echoed its cries. Then it led most of the pack and turned to flee into the mountains.
Only the Hurricane Demon Wolf that seemed to be the second-in-command, the gravely wounded Azure Wind Gray Wolf King, and a small part of the Gale Wolf Pack remained behind to cover their retreat.
The Black Moon Wolf Pack did not pursue. Instead, they attacked the remaining wolves holding the rear.
The Sword Qi sphere finally slammed into the Demon Wolf leader. It screamed again; both its forepaws had completely vanished, and its body was like a lump of mush, barely alive.
"Chen Wu, wait." Ling Yunxiao's voice stopped Chen Wu.
"Uncle, what is it?" Chen Wu was about to deliver the final blow. He turned to look at Ling Yunxiao.
Ling Yunxiao's clothes were ragged and his breathing unsteady, but powerful spiritual pressure radiated from him.
Just then, Chen Yu descended from the sky with Chen Xiaojun. "Congratulations, Yunxiao."
"You've broken through Level 80. Looks like you plan to use this Hurricane Demon Wolf as your Eighth Soul Beast. It's only a little over Fifty-Thousand-Year old, and its Soul Power is only on par with a Soul Saint's. You should think it through."
Ling Yunxiao insisted, "Brother Yu, the Demon Wolf's age is a little low, but not by much. After all, it's a True King-tier Soul Beast, and its Innate Skill suits me extremely well."
"Whether it's the Dark Azure Hurricane Tornado, Dark Azure Sword Blade, Giant Spirit Wind Cone, or even that Despairing Sound Roar it just used, they all suit my Wind and Cloud Fan. A Wind Type Soul Beast is just right for me. As long as it suits me, that's what matters."
Chen Yu nodded. "As long as you've thought it through. Go ahead."
Ling Yunxiao stepped forward and brought down his fan, finishing off the Demon Wolf leader. A deep black Soul Ring appeared. Ling Yunxiao sat cross-legged, and it was drawn toward him, settling directly above his head and pouring tremendous energy into him.
The enormous energy began to envelop Ling Yunxiao. From the outside, it looked as if a large dark azure cocoon had covered him.
The Black Soul Ring continuously released energy, and Ling Yunxiao absorbed it without pause. Each time he absorbed some, the dark azure cocoon flashed.
The fighting around them gradually died down. Before long, not a sound of battle remained.
Old Black looked around. Only thirty or forty wolves were left; more than half of the Black Moon Wolf Pack had been wiped out, and even his own Wolf Queen was gone.
He raised his head to the moon and let out a loud, mournful howl that brought to mind, "I ponder the boundless heavens and earth, alone, grief-stricken, with tears falling."
The remaining wolves followed his lead, howling in sorrow. Their cries drifted through the empty forest, echoing across the wilderness and carrying far, far away.
Then the Black Moon Wolf Pack gathered the corpses of the wolves that had fallen in battle, their own kin on one side and the Gale Wolf Pack on the other.
The Chen Clan Members gathered around Ling Yunxiao to protect him. Chen Wu reported what had happened to Chen Yu.
Chen Yu asked, "Cheng Hao, go back to the village and report that everyone's safe. Ding Laosan, Chen Chen, you've both suffered superficial injuries too. Go recover. Chen Wu, what happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I came over after hearing the disturbances from a large-scale Soul Power battle. As soon as I arrived, I saw Old Black and the others were in danger, so I joined the fight at once. I ambushed one of the Hurricane Demon Wolves attacking Old Black..."
Chen Wu began recounting the general course of events.
"What's this?" Chen Xiaojun asked, puzzled, as he looked at the wolf pack.
Chen Wu glanced at the wolves and explained, "They're from their own pack. They might bury them. As for that pile of Gale Wolves over there, they'll probably eat them. After all, Soul Beasts eating the flesh of other Soul Beasts increases their physical strength and Cultivation Level, especially when they're the same kind."
Old Black slowly walked up to Chen Yu and lowered himself to the ground. "Awooo... woo woo..."
Chen Yu used his Intent to sense what he meant. "Old Black, my condolences. I'll look into this. You should also cultivate more, break through more, and sire more offspring."
"Woo woo woo."
"Old Black, you suffered because your Cultivation Level was too low. You should be glad their leader didn't take you seriously at first and didn't attack, but only sent those three Demon Wolves after you."
"It took you over two hundred years to break through to forty thousand years. That's neither slow nor fast."
"If you could also break through to fifty thousand years and become a True King-tier Soul Beast, you wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state, and your pack wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses."
Old Black had already been here when the Chen Clan moved here, though at the time he had only just passed ten thousand years.
"Woo woo woo..."
"I'll give you this Demon Wolf leader's corpse later. Devouring it should benefit you too. Hm, is this a Soul Bone?!"
Chen Yu drew the battered Demon Wolf corpse toward him and sliced across its right hind leg with his right hand.
Sure enough, a dark azure Right Leg Bone fell out. It was the same color as the wolf's body, brilliant and dazzling, translucent and radiant. Its powerful, violent energy fluctuations were enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
"Did it die such an unjust death? That's true. It never expected you to have reinforcements, and human Soul Masters at that." Chen Yu fell into thought.
"Awooo..."
Before long, three figures sped over from the distance: Cheng Hao, Ye Xiuxin, and Chen Hanxin. Chen Wenchao, who had been stationed in the village, only let Chen Hanxin bring Ye Xiuxin over after hearing Cheng Hao's report. Chen Hanxin and Ye Xiuxin were worried about their husbands; their son wasn't among them, was he?
"Xiuxin, treat these few," Chen Yu said, turning around.
Although Ye Xiuxin wasn't a pure Healer, her healing ability was still among the very best. After all, in terms of healing effects, the Seven-Color Begonia Bracelet ranked in the top ten.
"Third Soul Skill-Begonia Blossoms!"
A seven-petaled, seven-colored begonia appeared from the begonia patterns carved into the beads of the Seven-Color Begonia Bracelet. Each petal was delicate and lovely, and the flower's shape was graceful. It floated in the air as petals drifted past Ye Xiuxin's jade-like arms and hands, scattering Immortal Aura over everyone.
This Soul Skill increased a Soul Master's Life Force and stamina.
"Fifth Soul Skill-Spring Breeze and Jade Dew!"
Then several drops of seven-colored dew fell from the begonia's stamen and scattered toward everyone. The dew gleamed like pearls, clear and lustrous, glittering in a way that left one entranced. "Resting upon the morning dew, flourishing beneath the clear sky"-what could compare?
This Ten-Thousand-Year Fifth Soul Skill purified the negative conditions affecting everyone and increased their Soul Power.
Life Force, stamina, Soul Power, and the removal of harmful conditions: after the whole process, the wounds, poison, and exhaustion vanished from everyone. The recovery of their Soul Power and spirit also left them looking refreshed, including his son, Chen Xiaojun.
Three hours later, Ling Yunxiao's absorption finally neared its end, and the dark azure cocoon around him gradually grew thinner.
Huff, huff, huff... His breathing gradually steadied and calmed.
Another ten-odd minutes passed before Ling Yunxiao finally opened his eyes.
"Yunxiao, how is it?" Chen Hanxin asked first.
"Very good. I didn't have any trouble. Haha, Brother Yu, Hanxin, my Soul Power Level is 81 now. I've finally become a Soul Douluo."
Ling Yunxiao looked delighted. He was very clever and had good Wuxing, but his physical aptitude was only that of a minor genius. His Innate Soul Power had been above Level 7, but below Level 8.
"Congratulations, Dad!"
"Congratulations, Uncle!"
"Congratulations..."
"Congratulations, Captain!"
Ling Yunxiao was an elder of the village and the Garrison Team's captain. The Garrison Team was responsible for guarding the North Gate and East Gate, patrolling the lakeshore, keeping the village safe, and protecting important facilities and the like.
"Yunxiao, you're sixty-seven this year, and an 81st-level Soul Douluo. Take this." As he spoke, Chen Yu handed Ling Yunxiao the Hurricane Demon Wolf's Right Leg Bone.
"Absorb it after you get back. You should be able to break through to Level 82. That way, you'll have a chance to comprehend Intent before you turn eighty, elevate your Martial Soul, and break through to Titled Douluo."
Ling Yunxiao examined it in astonishment. "Is this from the Hurricane Demon Wolf just now? Big Brother, this is far too precious. I'm not young anymore. Give it to Xun'er."
Xun'er referred to Chen Xun, the Young Chief.
Everyone fell silent. After all, it was a Soul Bone from a wolf over fifty thousand years old.
Chen Yu said solemnly and loudly, "What are you saying? A Soul Bone is best absorbed by the person who obtained a Soul Ring from the same Soul Beast."
"You and I are brothers, so there's no need to say such things. Besides, you and Little Sister Hanxin are about twenty years younger than me. I watched you grow up."
"And you were the main one responsible for killing this Demon Wolf. Our Chen Clan has no tradition of keeping the spoils for itself."
"Also, Chen Wu, you contributed a great deal this time. There's a Ten-Thousand-Year Wind Type Soul Bone in the Clan Treasury. I'll give it to you as your reward. Is that all right?"
"Thank you, Uncle Yu." Chen Wu was so happy he could hardly contain himself.
No matter what else, based on his contribution to the kill, he had only played a supporting role. A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone was an unexpected bonus, and he was very satisfied with the arrangement.
Only then did Chen Hanxin speak. "Ling Xiao, take it. Brother Yu will make arrangements for Xun'er."
Seeing that his wife had already spoken, Ling Yunxiao set aside his misgivings. "Brother Yu, then I'll gratefully accept it."
When they returned to the village, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and a faint fish-belly white glow rose in the distant east.
Chen Xiaojun was brought back too. With the wolf pack suffering such a change, it was no longer a good time to challenge them. Chen Yu sent everyone away to rest.
That afternoon, in Chen Yu's study, the grandfather and grandson were reviewing the previous day's battle.
"Grandpa, what exactly is a True King-tier Soul Beast?" Chen Xiaojun asked.
"It's equivalent to an advanced Soul Saint."
The Soul Beasts classified those over ten thousand years according to their battle strength as Beast Kings, War Kings, True Kings, Ancient Kings, and Saint Kings, corresponding to our Soul Masters' Soul Kings, Soul Emperors, Soul Saints, Soul Douluos, and Titled Douluos.
Before you continue